Finally, his wife could not take it anymore and told him to stop putting the present by the tree every year. Yet, she never pressured him to open it. She just didn’t want it by her tree.

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The moment of truth finally came when Vicki Allen herself traveled down to his city to open it for him. The ex-lovers sat on a stage in a packed café while Pearce’s family looked on from the audience.

The tense energy in the atmosphere was almost palpable, for even Allen had forgotten what was in the package.

As the wrapping paper fell away, a small book titled ‘Love Is: New Ways to Spot That Certain Feeling’ was revealed. The irony of it had Allen exclaiming,

“Oh no! I can’t give that to him.”

Pearce was touched by the gift and the condition it was in. The mystery of 47 years was finally uncovered. Meanwhile, Pearce said he would frame the gift to remind himself of how innocent he was as a teenager.

His family and Vicki Allen have remained friendly and, if you ask us, that is truly magnificent.